Benedict Cumberbatch has a big request for his fans
Benedict Cumberbatch is currently starring as the Prince of Denmark himself, Hamlet, on the London stage. Obviously, this is something we are HIGHLY interested in, because it’s our Benedict after all. The first pictures of him as Hamlet made us swoon big time, and now he’s got a plea for all future fans checking out the show: please don’t record the performance.
If you’ve ever been to a live stage show before — whether Broadway or your local community theater — more than likely there’s been an announcement beforehand mentioning that recording devices and photography are strictly forbidden. While part of that’s all because of copyright laws for the performance, the other half of is that little white and red flashing lights out in the audience are VERY distracting for those onstage. Not only that, coming from Cumberbatch himself, it’s also distracting for the actors on the stage.
Addressing the crowd that had gathered outside of the stage door of the Barbican Theatre in London, over the weekend, Cumberbatch thanked his fans for showing up, and then brought out his no-camera request.
“I can see cameras, I can see red lights in the auditorium, and it may not be any of you here that did that, but it’s blindingly obvious,” he explained, according to People. “I could see a red light in about the third row on the right and it’s mortifying. There’s nothing that’s less enjoyable or supportive as an actor on stage experiencing that.”
Cumberbatch is thrilled with the outpouring of love and support that he’s been given during the first week of previews for Hamlet. He promises fans that without those lights in the audience, he can give everyone “a live performance that you’ll remember, hopefully, in your minds and brains whether it’s good, bad or indifferent, rather than on your phones.”
He asked those by the stage door to, “Tweet, blog and hashtag” his plea so everyone puts their phones away for all future performances. So hey, we’re only following the request of our our Internet Boyfriend. Don’t record Hamlet. Save it forever and ever in your Mind Palace instead.
(Image via BBC)
Related:
The Internet stages of falling in love with Benedict Cumberbatch
